Weaving shuttle

ABSTRACT

A weaving shuttle has an elongated head and a pair of side walls extending longitudinally from the head. The side walls are separable adjacent the head to receive and mount a weft bobbin therebetween. A plate-shaped tension element, formed of an elastic material and including an enlarged abutment at one end thereof, is disposed within a transverse bore formed in the head so that a longitudinal axis and transverse axis of the tension element follows the longitudinal axis of the shuttle. The transverse axis of the tension element has a lineal dimension which is greater than the corresponding dimension of the transverse bore to provide a cushion against impact forces on the shuttle. A securing device secures the other end of the tension element so the tension element is under a desired degree of tension within the transverse bore to secure the weft bobbin between the side walls with sufficient force to prevent a tilting relationship between the weft bobbin and weaving shuttle.

nited States Patent 1191 Meyering et al.

1451 Nov. 19, 1974 WEAVING SHUTTLE [73] Assignee: Gebr. Schmeing, Borken-Weseke,

Germany 22 Filed: Aug. 27, 1973 21 App]. No.: 391,550

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 923,120

1/1960 Great Britain 139/207 7/1950 Great Britain 139/207 3/1964 Great Britain 139/207 Primary Examiner-James Kee Chi Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Merchant, Gould, Smith & Edell 5 7 ABSTRACT A weaving shuttle has an elongated head and a pair of side walls extending longitudinally from the head. The side walls are separable adjacent the head to receive and mount a weft bobbin therebetween. A plateshaped tension element, formed of an elastic material and including an enlarged abutment at one end thereof, is disposed within a transverse bore formed in the head so that a longitudinal axis and transverse axis of the tension element follows the longitudinal axis of the shuttle. The transverse axis of the tension element has a lineal dimension which is greater than the corresponding dimension of the transverse bore to provide a cushion against impact forces on the shuttle. A se curing device secures the other end of the tension element so the tension element is under a desired degree of tension within the transverse bore to secure the weft bobbin between the side walls with sufficient force to prevent a tilting relationship between the weft bobbin and weaving shuttle.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures WEAVING SHUTTLE BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Field of the Invention The invention refers to a weaving shuttle with a separation of the two side walls in the area of the head, which is in the vicinity of the weft bobbin mounting and a support which is located at an angle to the shuttle head.

2. Description of the Prior Art At the present, weaving shuttles are known in which the inner space, which serves to accomodate the weft bobbin, has a groove or separation at its head, which is near the weft bobbin mounting. The purpose of the groove or separation at this end of the shuttle is to hold the weft bobbin in two clamp jaws, wherebythe necessary contact pressure is achieved, on the one hand, by the clamp jaws and additionally, on the other hand, by the fact that the separated side walls are tautly drawn toward each other via an elastic support.- Various proposals have been made for securing this support.

These known mechanisms all have in common the disadvantage that the tension of the known supports is not very great, with the result that relatively great movements on the part of the side walls are necessary (i.e., when the spool is introduced, the separation in the shuttle head is opened relatively far) to hold the weft bobbin sufficiently secure between the clamp jaws.

A further disadvantage of the familiar designs is that the two separated parts of the shuttle head can tilt relative to each other, which can result in distortions of the shuttles course and, in addition, in the destruction of the shuttle. This obviously jeopardizes the perfect support of the spool. To avoid this disadvantage, an extension piece has been provided in thearea of the shuttle head (for example, according to DT-OS 2,054,844). This extension piece acts as a guide and meshes with a corresponding recess in the other part of the shuttle head. According to DT-OS 2,050,263, this extension piece can be manufactured as a single component which is inserted into and glued to a side wall and is preferably made of the same material as the actual side wall, i.e., it is made of wood.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The task of the invention is to avoid the disadvantages inherent in the heretofore known designs. These disadvantages are seen in the fact that the tensing motion is too great and in the fact that the shuttle can become tilted. This basic aim of the invention is attained by employing a plate-shaped tension element made of elastic material as a support. The longitudinal axis and the transverse axis of this tension element defines a plane which follows the plane of the shuttles longitudinal axis. Also, on one end, it has an enlarged abutment and, on the other end, it is provided with at least one borehole to accomodate a locking pin. In the following this tension element is designated as a stabilizing cover plate. If a weaving shuttle having a closed outside and provided with a ream or, groove crossing the head eccentrically from top to bottom is employed, it would be preferable according to the invention to locate the enlarged abutment on that side of the head which is close to the ream.

According to another essential feature of the invention, the recess to accomodate the stabilizing cover plate is somewhat smaller, particularly in its width, than the outer circumference of the stabilizing cover plate. In this way, no collision of wood on wood can occur in the area of the separation when the shuttle is struck. To permit variation in the elasticity of the stabilizing cover plate, it is preferable for the stabilizing cover plate to have several boreholes.

In its original state, i.e., before it is installed, the length of the stabilizing cover plate is greater than the width of the shuttle to make it possible to insert the cover plate in a simple way and to tighten it with assurance, regardless of the size of the shuttle. The protruding part of the cover plate can then be cut off after it is fastened in position. In so doing, it is, of course, possible to proceed in such a way that the borehole toaccomodate the locking pin is automatically made when the locking pin is installed. Since it isimpossible to prevent the stabilizing cover plate from experiencing l atigue, or damage, it must be possible to change or replace the stabilizing cover plate .in the easiest possible way. Further, a way to better distribute the pressure stemming from the resultant forces over the length of the stabilizing cover plate should be found and the fastening of the coverplate itself in the body of the shuttle should be simplified. I

These tasks which motivate the invention in a modified version are solved as follows: The fastening mechanism located opposite the abutment head is provided by abutment cams which protrude over the lateral outer circumference of the plate-shaped part, and the plate-shaped part is provided, at least in the area of the abutment cams, with an attenuation which permits a reduction of its width. In this respect it is preferable that the attenuation consist .of a out which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis and that it be possible to insert a blocking element in the cut to fasten the stabilizing cover plate in the shuttle. According to a modified version of the invention the procedure is as follows: In the area of the cut, the walls of which are provided with indentations, the blocking element is hammer-shaped or T-shaped, whereby, for example, the longitudinal bar of the hammer-shaped blocking element increases in width as the distance from the transverse bar increases. To increase the elasticity of the stabilizing cover plate it is further possible to increase the length of the out.

To make it possible to install the stabilizing cover plate in the easiest and least complicated way possible and with tools available everywhere, it is suggested according to an additional essential feature of the invention that the stabilizing cover plate be lengthened to extend beyond the width of the shuttle, whereby activation boreholes can be provided on that end of the cover plate which faces away from the abutment. In this way it is possible to draw the stabilizing cover plate through the body of theshuttle and. then to apply tension to the stabilizing cover plate, such that the cut with its indentations is exposed. The blocking element can then be installed in this space, whereupon at least the transverse bar of the hammer-shaped blocking element will retreat into the body of the shuttle when the cover plate is released. In this way, the stabilizing cover plate is locked in the body of the shuttle, whereupon that part of the cover plate which protrudes beyond the body of the shuttle can be cut off.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following, versions of the invention are explained on the basis of the drawings. The drawings show:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the shuttle;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the shuttle according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a top view as in FIG. 1 of another version of a shuttle; FIG. 4A shows the actual stabilizing cover plate in side elevation;

FIG. 4B shows the stabilizing cover plate in end elevation, as seen from right to left of FIG. 4A; and,

FIG. 5 shows a modified version of the stabilizing cover plate in prespective.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, l designates a weaving shuttle which is developed with a plastic mounting for base 2 of a spool holder 3. In the area of the head of shuttle 1, which is close to the base of the spool, a separation 4 is provided, which in the version represented in FIG. 1, first runs along the shuttles longitudinal axis and then turns toward the outside, as at 4a, and opens to the outer side toward the side wall of the shuttle. In this way, the necessary opening motion of the shuttle upon installation of the spool is achieved. To assure the necessary clamping effect, a stabilizing cover plate 5 is installed in the head of shuttle 1, the construction of which is more clearly evident from FIG. 4A-B. In this arrangement, the stabilizing cover plate 5 is located in the area of separation 4 and/or 4a and thus, connects the two parts 6 and 7 of the shuttle, which are separated by the separation 4, 4a. This connection is such that it is impossible for these two parts to tilt against each other, i.e., vertical movement is precluded.

The stabilizing cover plate consists of an enlarged head 8 and the actual cover plate 9 which is plateshaped. With its enlarged head 8, the stabilizing cover plate rests in a corresponding recess in the shuttle head, whereby the cover plate is fastened in the shuttle head on the other side 6 by means of a fastening pin 10. As can be seen by dotted lines in FIG. 4A, before it is installed, the stabilizing cover plate 5 has a length which is greater than the width of the shuttle 1, such that the cover plate 5 can be firmly drawn into the body of the shuttle by taking hold of the protruding end of the cover plate. It is clearly evident from FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 that with its x-x axis and yy axis, the cover plate is situated parallel to a plane determined by the longitudinal axis of the shuttle. This is also clearly shown by the illustration in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 shows another form of the shuttle, in which the acutal separation 14 does not continue to the outer wall of the shuttle. Rather, the diverted portion 14a of the separation opens into a groove 15, which runs roughly parallel to the outer side of the shuttle. In this way, the shuttle is closed on its outer side, thus precluding damage to extremely fine chain threads, i.e., in silk weaving mills. In the version according to FIG. 3, stabilizing cover plate 5 is so installed that it is located in the area of groove 15. In contrast to the version according to FIG. 1, the enlarged head of stabilizing cover plate 5 is in the vicinity of or to the side of groove 15, while the locking pin 16 is located on the other side. This assures a firm mounting of the side wall and prevents the side wall from breaking open when struck by the weft bobbin.

It is preferable if stabilizing cover plate 5 is somewhat larger, at least with respect to its width, than the recess provided in the shuttle so that, when the shuttle is struck, the two wooden wall parts in the area of separation 4a and 14a do not come in contact with each other or, at least, do not make contact so fast. Rather, the blow applied to the shuttle when it is struck is first absorbed by the stabilizing cover plate which is tensed or pressed forward. The stabilizing cover plate consists of a highly elastic plastic commonly used nowadays in the weaving industry, whereby the elasticity can be varied as required by additional recesses 17 in the stabilizing cover plate.

In FIG. 5, 21 designates a modified version of a stabilizing cover plate, cover plate 21 has a plate-shaped middle section 22 and abutment cams 24 and 25 located on the side of the plate-shaped middle section 22 which is opposite to abutment 23. These cams protrude beyond the outer circumference of the plate-shaped middle section 22. Although, according to the design of FIG. 4A, the abutment 23 can protrude beyond the lateral outer circumference of the plate-shaped middle section 22 as well as beyond the surface of the plateshaped middle section 22, the abutment cams 24 and 25 according to FIG. 5 protrude only beyond the lateral outer circumference of the plate-shaped middle section 22. On that end of the plate-shaped middle section 22 which faces away from the abutment 23, a cut 26 is provided which has indentations 27 and 28, whereby a blocking element 29 can be installed in this cut, as will be described hereinafter. The blocking element 29 is hammer-shaped and has a transverse bar 30 as well as a longitudinal bar 31. The length of the stabilizing cover plate 21 is greater than the width of the shuttle, and activation boreholes 32 and 33 are provided on that part of the cover plate 21 which is opposite abutment 23.

The installation of the stabilizing cover plate 21 is as follows: The cover plate is pushed in through the borehole provided in the body of the shuttle by pressing the cover plate together transversely to its longitudinal extension and, after it is pushed through, by taking hold of the cover plate by activation boreholes 32 and 33 and drawing it out of the shuttle under tension to the point where cut 26 and indentations 27, 28 are exposed. Blocking element 29 can now be placed in this cut 26 with opposite ends of bar 30 in an adjacent indentation 27, 28. Following this, the cover plate 21 is released and retreats back into the body of the shuttle 1. In this way, transverse bar 30 with a portion of the longitudinal bar 31 enters the borehole inside the body of the shuttle. The area of the cover plate beyond the dotted line 34 protrudes beyond the body of the shuttle and can be cut off at this point. In this way, a simple and reliable fastening of the cover plate inside the body of the shuttle is attained. To increase the elasticity of the cover plate 21, the plate-shaped middle section 22 can be provided with a cut-extension 35, which may be more or less long and wide according to the degree of elasticity desired.

It is further evident that a damaged stabilizing cover plate 5, 21 can be easily replaced, even by a layman, simply by cutting the stabilizing cover plate 5, 21 according to respective separation cuts 4, 4a or 15 in the body of the shuttle 1. After the pieces of a cover plate 5 or 21 are removed, a new cover plate 5 or 21 can be installed and fastened. It is to be expressly pointed out here that the form of the cover plate 21, the blocking element 29 and the cut 35 as illustrated in FIG. 5 is not obligatory'for the conception according to the invention. Rather, to accomodate the shape of the shuttle, other designs might also be chosen.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved weaving shuttle for use with a weft bobbin, said weaving shuttle including:

a. an elongated head portion having a transverse bore;

b. a pair of side wall portions extending longitudinally from said head portion;

c. means providing for the separation of said side wall portions along a surface crossed by said bore adjacent said head portion to mount the weft bobbin therebetween;

(1. support means disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said shuttle for resiliently drawing said side wall portions together to secure the weft bobbin between said side wall portions, said support means comprising:

i. an elongated plate-shaped tension element formed from an elastic material and having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, said element being receivable in said transverse bore, with said axes lying in a common plane which follows the longitudinal axis of said shuttle to extend across the surface of separation;

ii. an elongated abutment at one longitudinal end of said plate-shaped tension element, said transverse bore having a configuration corresponding to said tension element whereby said tension element may be placed under tension longitudinally of said transverse bore; and,

iii. means acting at the other end of said tension element for securing said tension element under a desired degree of tension longitudinally of said transverse bore.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said shuttle has a borehold formed therein extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shuttle and transversely through said transverse bore, wherein said plate-shaped tension element has an opening formed therein in spaced relation to said enlarged abutment and wherein a locking pin is insertable through said transversely extended borehole of said transverse bore and said opening in said tension element when said tension element is under said desired degree of tension longitudinally of said transverse bore.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said transverse bore has a transverse dimension extending parallel to the longitudinal dimension of said shuttle which is smaller than the longitudinal dimension of said transverse axis of said tension element.

4. The structure of claim 2 wherein said plate-shaped tension element has a plurality of openings formed therein whereby the elasticity of said tension element is increased.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein the dimension of said plate-shaped tension element along said longitudi nal axis is greater than the transverse dimension of said shuttle corresponding to the longitudinal dimension of said transverse bore. I

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein said elongated head has a groove formed therein which extends transversely therethrough, said groove being disposed to extend from adjacent one of said side walls transversely through said transverse bore toward the longitudinal axis of said head and wherein the means providing for the separation of said side walls extends from between said side walls to said groove whereby said one side wall can be displaced to receive and mount the weft bobbin between said side walls, said enlarged abutment being located in said transverse bore on the side of said shuttle adjacent to said groove.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein said means for securing said support means under a desired degree of tension longitudinally of said transverse bore includes:

a. a pair of abutment cams formed on the other longitudinal end of said tension element, said abutment cams projecting in opposite directions from the outer circumference of said tension element and in a direction corresponding to said transverse axis of said tension element;

b. said other longitudinal end being attenuated to form a T-shaped notch between said abutment cams whereby to permit a temporary reduction in width at said abutment cams so as to insert said tension element into said transverse bore of said shuttle.

8. The structure of claim 7 further including a block ing element having a configuration generally corre sponding to that of said notch and receivable in said notch to restrict the reduction in width at said abut- 

1. An improved weaving shuttle for use with a weft bobbin, said weaving shuttle including: a. an elongated head portion having a transverse bore; b. a pair of side wall portions extending longitudinally from said head portion; c. means providing for the separation of said side wall portiOns along a surface crossed by said bore adjacent said head portion to mount the weft bobbin therebetween; d. support means disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said shuttle for resiliently drawing said side wall portions together to secure the weft bobbin between said side wall portions, said support means comprising: i. an elongated plate-shaped tension element formed from an elastic material and having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, said element being receivable in said transverse bore, with said axes lying in a common plane which follows the longitudinal axis of said shuttle to extend across the surface of separation; ii. an elongated abutment at one longitudinal end of said plate-shaped tension element, said transverse bore having a configuration corresponding to said tension element whereby said tension element may be placed under tension longitudinally of said transverse bore; and, iii. means acting at the other end of said tension element for securing said tension element under a desired degree of tension longitudinally of said transverse bore.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said shuttle has a borehold formed therein extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shuttle and transversely through said transverse bore, wherein said plate-shaped tension element has an opening formed therein in spaced relation to said enlarged abutment and wherein a locking pin is insertable through said transversely extended borehole of said transverse bore and said opening in said tension element when said tension element is under said desired degree of tension longitudinally of said transverse bore.
 3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said transverse bore has a transverse dimension extending parallel to the longitudinal dimension of said shuttle which is smaller than the longitudinal dimension of said transverse axis of said tension element.
 4. The structure of claim 2 wherein said plate-shaped tension element has a plurality of openings formed therein whereby the elasticity of said tension element is increased.
 5. The structure of claim 1 wherein the dimension of said plate-shaped tension element along said longitudinal axis is greater than the transverse dimension of said shuttle corresponding to the longitudinal dimension of said transverse bore.
 6. The structure of claim 1 wherein said elongated head has a groove formed therein which extends transversely therethrough, said groove being disposed to extend from adjacent one of said side walls transversely through said transverse bore toward the longitudinal axis of said head and wherein the means providing for the separation of said side walls extends from between said side walls to said groove whereby said one side wall can be displaced to receive and mount the weft bobbin between said side walls, said enlarged abutment being located in said transverse bore on the side of said shuttle adjacent to said groove.
 7. The structure of claim 1 wherein said means for securing said support means under a desired degree of tension longitudinally of said transverse bore includes: a. a pair of abutment cams formed on the other longitudinal end of said tension element, said abutment cams projecting in opposite directions from the outer circumference of said tension element and in a direction corresponding to said transverse axis of said tension element; b. said other longitudinal end being attenuated to form a T-shaped notch between said abutment cams whereby to permit a temporary reduction in width at said abutment cams so as to insert said tension element into said transverse bore of said shuttle.
 8. The structure of claim 7 further including a blocking element having a configuration generally corresponding to that of said notch and receivable in said notch to restrict the reduction in width at said abutment cams. 